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Altar of St. Agnes

St. Agnes of Montepulciano (1268-1317, feast day – April 20) became a cloistered Dominican nun after having spent time as a nun in monasteries which followed both the Franciscan and also the Augustinian ways of life.  Thanks to a vision in which St. Dominic claimed her as his own, St. Agnes founded a Dominican monastery in Montepulciano.

Yet, St. Agnes’s life teaches us something else very important – the purpose of the Dominican nuns in the life of the Order.  With Dominicans, there are both  cloistered nuns as well as active sisters (who often teach).  St. Dominic founded the cloistered nuns before he founded the friars.  For 10 years, the nuns that St. Dominic had gathered prayed for St. Dominic and the men who eventually joined him in the holy preaching.

The same is true even to this day.  Dominican cloistered nuns continue to pray and do penance for the work of the friars – the salvation of souls.  One author put it this way:

The primary object of the Order of Preachers is to preach the Word of God and to save souls.  Saint Dominic also instilled into his first daughters this apostolic spirit; so much so that by common consent they came to be known as Sisters Preacheresses.  To accomplish the salvation of souls through the medium of prayer and penance has ever been regarded by the sisters [i.e. cloistered nuns] as a primary duty.  They are to stand, Moses-like, on the mountain top with arms uplifted in supplication to aid those who fare forth on the apostolate to combat heresy and vice. (Dominican Saints, 189)

St. Agnes of Montepulciano exemplified this during her life.  She lived a life of intimate prayer with the Lord.  He bestowed many gifts on her including ‘snowflakes’ shaped like crosses and flowers from heaven while she would pray.  He also gave her a crucifix which He wore around His neck.  She likewise had a great love of penance and devotion to Christ’s passion.  She begged God’s mercy upon sinners, just like St. Dominic had done before her.  In both of these ways, she was able to unite her prayers and penances to the work of the salvation of souls, particularly by being in a monastery attached to the Dominican friars whose very goal it was, and still is, to preach for the salvation of souls.

St. Agnes continues to exemplify the Dominican charism, as she still intercedes for all of us from heaven.  May God open our hearts to the graces He wishes to bestow on us through her intercession.

O God, you were pleased often to shed a heavenly dew over the blessed Agnes, your virgin, and to adorn with various fresh-blown flowers the places where she prayed; mercifully grant, through her intercession, that we be sprinkled with the unfailing dew of your blessing and be made fit to receive the fruits of immortality.  Through Christ our Lord.

February 3-5, 2012 at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC.

A Vocation Weekend is a no-strings-attached chance to spend time learning about the life of Dominican Friars in the Province of St. Joseph. Come pray with us, talk with our student brothers, meet our older brethren, and most of all listen for the voice of Jesus who continually calls men to become preachers for the salvation of souls. (It is possible also to visit the Dominican House of Studies informally; contact the Vocation Director).

For more information, check out the Facebook page for the Province of St. Joseph and Fr. Benedict’s blog for men discerning a vocation.

Also of interest to those discerning is this recent essay by Archbishop J. Augustine DiNoia, OP:  ”Why are there so many Dominican vocations?”

In this video, Br. Gregory Maria Pine, O.P. speaks about the response of two different English Dominicans, Fr. Vincent McNabb, O.P. and Fr. Bede Jarrett, O.P. to the question “Why did you enter religious life?” In comparing these two responses, Br. Gregory shows the link between the objective good of religious vows as well as the personal element to joining a community dedicated to preaching the Gospel and the salvation of souls.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Br. Gregory Maria is currently studying philosophy and theology  in his first year at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C.

Our Lady of the Rosary (feast day – Oct. 7) dates back to 1571 when Pope St. Pius V (a Dominican Pope) instituted the feast, under the title of “Our Lady of Victory,” in thanksgiving for Our Lady’s answer to the prayers of all the Christian nations who had been praying the Rosary so that the Christian forces would be victorious over the Turks at the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571.  In 1573, Pope Gregory XIII changed the title to the “Feast of the Holy Rosary,” by which it is now known.

Aside from the connection with the Dominican Pope who instituted the feast and the more commonly known tradition that the Blessed Virgin Mary gave St. Dominic the Rosary as a means to convert heretics, the Dominican celebration of the feast has some beautiful characteristics.

The hymns for the Divine Office run through each of the mysteries of the Rosary, and the antiphons throughout the day commemorate the events of the Blessed Mother written in the Gospels.  The feast, which used to fall on the first Sunday of October (Rosary Sunday) also was accompanied by a blessing of roses:

God, you are the creator and upholder of the human race, the author of grace and the generous giver of eternal salvation, with your holy blessing + bless these roses which we beg you to bless, and which we offer this day in thanksgiving to you and in devotion and veneration towards the ever blessed virgin Mary of the rosary.  By the power of the holy cross pour out a heavenly + blessing on these roses, which have given to man to enjoy their pleasing fragrance and to alleviate sickness.  By the sign of the holy + cross let them be endowed with such blessing that the sick to whom they are brought, or who bring them to their homes, may be healed of their infirmities.  May the devils depart, may they flee panic-stricken with their followers from these dwellings, nor may they any more dare to trouble those who serve you. Through Christ our Lord.

All in all, and as seen in the blessing of roses, this feast was instituted and was celebrated throughout the ages in honor of Our Lady’s protection over the Church both from heresy within and from the attacks from without.  May we too turn to Mary in these days of attacks on the Church and her teachings, and may we entrust ourselves to the Blessed Virgin’s intercession.

O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.